30-06 Barrel Length - The Firearms Forum

Benjamima · 01-30-2011, 08:48 PM

So Im putting together a Remington 721 in 30-06. Just ordered a nice thumbhole stock from Boyds, some duracoat paint to go over the decaying bluing job, and have been researching trigger jobs.

One thing Im contemplating is trimming the barrel down a few inches.

Currently, it is about 23-24". I was thinking of taking it down to the 18-20" range to make it more handy on horseback/in the cab of a truck/in the brush/etc. I don't really forsee myself having to make a shot much past 300-500 yards. Am I going to lose a major amount of power or accuracy at that range?

I see these expensive TacOps rifles, which are essentially a super accurized Remington 700 in .308. Most of the rifles they build are 18-20", and there are guys shooting sub 4" groups with them at 700 yards.

So it got me thinking, 3-5" off the overall length of the weapon could prove useful. And if it doesn't severely effect performance, then why the heck not do it?

gendoikari87 · 01-30-2011, 08:54 PM

I don't know about the .30-06 but on those tactical shortened barrels, they did a study and found that the .308 was only loosing 50fps at 20".

Jim K · 01-30-2011, 09:47 PM

A .30-'06 with a 20" barrel is going to have a lot of blast and noise. I know most folks will say that outdoors, and in the excitement of a hunt it won't matter, but I will tell you it might matter down the road.

QUIT MUMBLING AND SPEAK UP DAMMIT, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

Jim

Benjamima · 01-30-2011, 10:36 PM

Yeah..I don't think I want to mess with trimming it down. A lot of work for a negligible gain in handling, and added concussion.

Ordered this stock:
http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/ROSS-F...0-710-ft-a.htm

And some Brownells Aluma-Hyde Parkerizing Gray. Oughta look pretty slick.

I think I might do my shotgun in desert tan with krylon non-skid black on the stock.

I hear the Aluma-Hyde is great stuff given you do your prep work. I'll post some before/after pics of the whole debacle.

swiftman · 01-30-2011, 11:28 PM

The blast from a 20 inch barrel is not going to destroy your hearing any faster than a 23-24 inch barrel. The longer barrel is already past the decibles levels that do that. My left ear can testify to that.

01-30-2011, 08:48 PM	#1
Benjamima Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 20	30-06 Barrel Length So Im putting together a Remington 721 in 30-06. Just ordered a nice thumbhole stock from Boyds, some duracoat paint to go over the decaying bluing job, and have been researching trigger jobs. One thing Im contemplating is trimming the barrel down a few inches. Currently, it is about 23-24". I was thinking of taking it down to the 18-20" range to make it more handy on horseback/in the cab of a truck/in the brush/etc. I don't really forsee myself having to make a shot much past 300-500 yards. Am I going to lose a major amount of power or accuracy at that range? I see these expensive TacOps rifles, which are essentially a super accurized Remington 700 in .308. Most of the rifles they build are 18-20", and there are guys shooting sub 4" groups with them at 700 yards. So it got me thinking, 3-5" off the overall length of the weapon could prove useful. And if it doesn't severely effect performance, then why the heck not do it? -->

01-30-2011, 08:54 PM	#2
gendoikari87 Former Guest Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 361	Re: 30-06 Barrel Length I don't know about the .30-06 but on those tactical shortened barrels, they did a study and found that the .308 was only loosing 50fps at 20".

01-30-2011, 09:47 PM	#3
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: 30-06 Barrel Length A .30-'06 with a 20" barrel is going to have a lot of blast and noise. I know most folks will say that outdoors, and in the excitement of a hunt it won't matter, but I will tell you it might matter down the road. QUIT MUMBLING AND SPEAK UP DAMMIT, I CAN'T HEAR YOU! Jim

01-30-2011, 10:36 PM	#4
Benjamima Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 20	Re: 30-06 Barrel Length Yeah..I don't think I want to mess with trimming it down. A lot of work for a negligible gain in handling, and added concussion. Ordered this stock: http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/ROSS-F...0-710-ft-a.htm And some Brownells Aluma-Hyde Parkerizing Gray. Oughta look pretty slick. I think I might do my shotgun in desert tan with krylon non-skid black on the stock. I hear the Aluma-Hyde is great stuff given you do your prep work. I'll post some before/after pics of the whole debacle.

01-30-2011, 11:28 PM	#5
swiftman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Central Ill Posts: 221	Re: 30-06 Barrel Length The blast from a 20 inch barrel is not going to destroy your hearing any faster than a 23-24 inch barrel. The longer barrel is already past the decibles levels that do that. My left ear can testify to that.